Parents watched a presentation and asked questions about Common Core State Standards during two informational meetings hosted Thursday by the Russellville School District (RSD).

Several RSD teachers and administrators, including Superintendent Randall Williams, were on hand to answer questions and address concerns.

Williams said the main goal of the meetings was to make clear the difference between standards and curriculum.

Standards define what should be learned by the end of a school year, while curriculum is a detailed plan for day-to-day teaching.

"The local school district determines what curriculum looks like," Williams said, adding curriculum changes depend on resources, professional development, the district's goals and the community's values.

One parent, during the 1:30 p.m. meeting in the Russellville Middle School meeting room, expressed concern over her sixth-grader's homework assignment. She said the content, which made reference to a miscarriage among other mature topics, was not age appropriate.

When she read aloud the assignment, most in the room seemed to agree with her assessment.

Williams used the example to drive home his point, pointing out the assignment was part of the curriculum, not a standard.

"She read something that was in the curriculum today that won't be in it tomorrow," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Other concerns parents expressed included not having textbooks for supplemental work at home, older students falling behind because they didn't start their school careers with these standards and some of the processes being used in math classes.

Williams said teachers are using a "blended approach" to ease older students into the the new standards. Russellville High School Principal Sheila Jacobs said she is researching online tools parents can access at home for supplemental work.

"There's a learning curve for both teachers and students," Nina Bolton, fourth-grade teacher, said. "Nothing is blatantly new; it's just more rigorous."

The biggest changes in math with Common Core State Standards is that it emphasizes an in-depth understanding of math concepts and promotes a high degree of procedural skill, according to the district's presentation.

Teachers who lamented about teaching subjects "a mile wide and an inch deep" have embraced the more rigorous standards, Bolton said.

"Math is all about being able to defend your process," she said.

Bolton said, while the standards may be different, some things in education will never change.

"Our goal is efficiency and fluency, and it always has been," she said.

Nearly 80 people attended the meetings, and those who were unable to attend can still receive the information.

Communication Coordinator Ashley Snellenberger said the Power Point presentation the district showed during the meetings will be posted on the district's website, www.russellvilleschools.net.